citydesk

A Caldwell man walked into a Canyon County courtroom on Friday, facing 30 counts of animal cruelty after police said they discovered dozens of mistreated dogs in December 2012. But the suspect walked out of court after seeing all of the charges dropped on a technicality.

This morning's Idaho Press-Tribune reports that 3rd District Court Judge Molly Huskey ruled that the search warrants in the case were based on illegally obtained evidence and therefore invalid. Holly also found that the statements made by the defendant were either obtained in violation of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination or "were not sufficiently attenuated from the initial illegality." As a result, none of the evidence or satements could be used in court and the suspect, Jerry Krebs, walked out of court a free man.

Additional charges of marijuana possession and trafficking were also dropped.